Disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as a glove and/or a glove insert

ABSTRACT

A disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as a glove itself and/or as a glove insert made to be worn directly on a wearers hand and/or between the hand and any other type of glove to remove from the surface of the skin, collect, and retain sweat and the like produced by human hands. Each disposable moisture absorbent glove comprises of any individual or combination of therewith elements: an outer shell that is made of flexible material, an inner shell that is made of a fluid pervious cover-stock, and an absorbent core interposed therebetween. The intermediate section may optionally include a fluid transfer layer interposed between the cover-stock shell and the core. The cuff or hem portion of the article may optionally include fastener means to secure the article on the wearers hand. 
     The disposable moisture absorbent glove can be formed as traditional, conventional fingerless, and conventional palm gloves. 
     This disposable moisture absorbent glove even if used for a prolonged period of time and especially when it used as an insert inside of any other type of glove provides skin protection by virtue of liquid absorption, so that hand skin ailments and bacteria groves or the like can be prevented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the working gloves, medical gloves, disposablegloves, therapeutic gloves, cosmetic gloves, moisture absorbent gloves,and disposable glove.

It is long been customary for working, medical, therapeutic, cosmetic,and moisture-retentive gloves to have an outer shell made out of rubberor a synthetic resin. The gloves made of such material preclude not onlypenetration of outer liquid inside of the gloves, but removal of sweatand the like produced by human hands out of the gloves. Prolonged wearof such gloves resulted in accumulation of significant amount of sweatand the like liquids inside of the gloves. Lengthened exposure of humanskin to the liquids inside of the gloves caused, occupational skindiseases, loses of fingers sensitivity, chapped skin, and provides foran environment for harmful bacteria and mold to grow on the insidesurfaces of the gloves.

The prior art models of the moisture retentive gloves provide for theinside surfaces of the gloves to be made of moisture retentive andantibacterial material that attached permanently to the glove. Thegloves made with permanently attached inner layer have very limitedliquid retaining capacities, and addition of the inner material notablyreduces fingers sensitivity. There are requirements for additionalprocesses for removing moisture from as well as killing bacteria or moldon the inner layer. The processes of manufacturing, initialsterilization, if needed, and maintenance of such gloves are verycumbersome and complicated.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide a novel typeof disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as glove itselfand/or as a glove insert and function of which and the process by whichthey are manufactured will obviates the problems imposed by the existingmodels.

The more specific object of this invention is to provide a noveldisposable moisture absorbent glove which function as glove itselfand/or as a glove insert that to be manufactured using existingprocesses utilized in manufacturing of conventional absorbent disposablearticles and the functionality of which will measurably improveabsorption of significant amount of sweat and the like liquids as wellas controllable distraction of bacteria and mold formed inside of thegloves. Furthermore, continue absorption of sweat and the like willimprove sensitivity of hands and prevent skin ailments and bacterialcontamination.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel design thatenables the disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as a gloveinsert to be manufactured separately from the glove itself usingexisting processes utilized in manufacturing of conventional absorbentdisposable articles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel disposablemoisture absorbent glove that function as a glove itself and/or as aglove inserts that is still simple and convenient in use.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent hereinafter from thespecification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularlywhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disposable moisture absorbent glove arranged to be worn directly on awearers hand and/or between the hand and any other type of glove toremove from the surface of the skin, collect, and retain sweat and thelike produced by human hands.

The article basically comprises of any individual or combination oftherewith elements: an outer shell, inner shell, and intermediatesection. The outer shell is made of flexible material of the customaryform of the glove. The inner shell is made of a fluid pervious coverstock of the customary form of the glove. The intermediate section ismade of a fluid absorbent core of a form that is specific for theparticular design of the glove. The intermediate section may optionallyinclude a fluid transfer layer interposed between the cover-stock shelland the core. The cuff or hem portion of the article may optionallyinclude fastener means to secure the article on the wearers hand.

After use, the article that contained sweat and the like is to bedisposed-off to prevent skin ailments and bacterial contamination.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable moisture absorbentconventional glove according to one embodiment of the present inventionviewed from the top thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view, not to scale, of the glove.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a disposable moisture absorbentfingerless glove according to the other embodiment of the presentinvention

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a disposable moisture absorbent palmglove according to the yet other embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the glove of FIG. 4 shown placed on a hand

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments herein described are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.They are chosen and described to explain the principles of the inventionand its application and practical use.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows disposable moisture absorbent conventional glove article 1constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention asviewed from the top. The article 1 of FIG. 1 is in the form of aconventional glove comprising a fingers portion 2, a middle portion 3,and a wrist portion 4. The wrist portion includes an optional fasteningmeans 5 by which the article is held in place on the hand of a wearer.

In FIG. 2 there is shown an enlarged sectional view, not to scale, takenthrough the intermediate portion along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1. As canbe seen therein the outer shell 6 in this illustrative embodiment isformed of a flexible material for instance such as single layer of aconventional non-woven spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) material soldunder the trade designation polypropylene. The inner shell in this viewis formed of moisture-pervious cover-stock layer 7. A conventional fluidabsorbent core 8 is interposed between the cover-stock inner shell 7 andthe outer flexible shell 6. The size of the core is less than that ofthe cover-stock shell and the flexible outer shell so that thelongitudinally extending marginal sides 9 and 10 of the article 1 areextremely flexible and comfortable to the anatomy of the wearer. Thecore is of any suitable construction such as cellulosic fiber. Enhancedabsorbency for the core can be accomplished by use of an air-laid superabsorbent material, or by inclusion of absorbency enhancers.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 anoptional fluid acquisition or surge layer 11 (also sometime called a“transfer” layer) is placed between inner moisture-pervious shell 7 andthe core. The acquisition layer can be of any suitable material such aswoven, non-woven or carded fibrous material. The acquisition layer 11serves to quickly absorb the liquid through the cover stock 7 fortemporary retention (e.g. to act as a temporary reservoir), and totransfer that liquid into underlying core 8 at a rate at which the corecan absorb for final or permanent retention. The fluid acquisition layer11 is in forms and shapes that provide maximum absorbency and the sametime placement of this layer shall provide maximum comfort and workingability to the wearer.

The FIG. 3 shows disposable moisture absorbent fingerless glove article12 constructed in accordance with another embodiment of this inventionas viewed from the top. The article 12 of FIG. 3 is in the form of aconventional fingerless glove comprising a middle portion 13, and awrist portion 14. The wrist portion includes an optional fastening means15 by which the article is held in place on the hand of a wearer. Thefingerless glove has identical to the article 1 FIG. 1 cross section asshown on FIG. 2. The fingerless glove of the present invention is mostsuitable to use in work or games environments where fingers sensitivityplayed a critical role (e.g. medical filed, bio-field, arts, precisionwork environment, sports, etc . . . ).

The FIGS. 4 and 5 show disposable moisture absorbent palm glove article16 constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of thisinvention. The FIG. 4 shows article 16 as viewed from the top and FIG. 5illustrates the use of the glove 16. The article 16 of FIG. 4 is in theform of a conventional palm glove comprising an elongated palm coveringsection 17, and a thumbhole 18 near one end and a pinkie-hole 19 nearthe other end. The both ends of the article 16 include fastening means20 by which the article is held in place on the hand of a wearer. Thepalm glove has the cross section as shown on FIG. 2. In use, the wearerplaces thumb 21 through the thumbhole 18 and pinkie 22 through thepinkie-hole 19 with the both ends are firmly folded around hand 23. Thepalm glove of the present invention are most suitable to use in work orgames where sensitivity of a large portion of the hand and fingersplayed a critical role and cushion of the palm along with partialremoval of sweat and the like produced by the palm of the human handinside of the working glove are required.

As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the foregoingthe absorbent articles of this invention are simple in construction,effective and are comfortable to wear. Moreover, they can bemanufactured economically, due to their simple construction and cohesionto the existing manufacturing processes currently used by manufacturersof absorbent disposable articles.

1-16. (canceled) 17-24. (canceled)
 25. A disposable moisture absorbentglove insert is made of moisture pervious material in the form of afingers glove arranged to be worn directly on a wearer's hand betweenthe hand and any other type of glove to remove from the surface of theskin sweat and the like produced by human hands and be disposed offthereafter.
 26. A disposable absorbent glove insert as defined of claim25, wherein said glove is made in the form of a fingerless glove.
 27. Adisposable absorbent glove insert as defined of claim 25, wherein saidglove is made in the form of a palm glove.
 28. A disposable absorbentglove insert as defined of claim 25 wherein said glove insert comprisesof any individual or combination of therewith elements: an outer shellthat is made of non-woven flexible material, an inner shell that is madeof fluid pervious cover-stock, and an absorbent core interposedtherebetween.
 29. A disposable absorbent glove as defined of claim 28additionally comprising a fluid-acquisition layer interposed betweensaid core and cover-stock inner layer.
 30. A disposable absorbent gloveas defined of claim 25 additionally comprising fastening means forsecuring said disposable absorbent glove on a wearer's hand.